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[IcyTea31]

In the police academy, Jackie had had professionalism hammered into his head as the most important aspect of a cop. But now at the Arson desk, he wasn't so sure anymore. An almost feral, shameless loose cannon. A trust fundee he wasn't sure was ever formally trained for the job. A boss whose nickname probably wasn't an exaggeration. But all of them damn good cops. Better than him. Even so, one caught his attention as something different. SK8R COP was a true professional. It was as if he lived for only two things, and one of them was "the book". The other thing being extreme skateboarding, Jackie couldn't understand how they would fit together. But they did. The strange oxymoron piqued his interest, and he soon started seeing the beauty of it. The beauty of him. He had much to learn.

SK8R COP gets 3 Strings on Jackie, and counts as his Lover.
Jackie gets 1 String on SK8R COP.

[Fniff]

Excellent work on the backstories, folks.
The last thing we need to do is a seating chart. This is where I ask you guys questions about your fellow Arson detectives to A. go into more detail about your department and sketch a world, B. get you guys embroiled in the petty office politics faster, and C. get you guys in some wonderful PC-NPC-PC triangles.
In the original high school setting, this would be a classroom. Here, I'm picturing Arson as an open-plan office. Cutthroat has her desk marked X, because Arson is so low on the totem pole the department head doesn't even get their own office.

For now, I'd like you to tell me where you're seated (Except Merisa, who is seated at X), what you've got on your desk, and how you sit.

Spoiler: Map! (click to show/hide)

[Harry Baldman]

SK8R COP was assigned to C5 initially so as to not disturb the then-quite-ordinary detectivry of Arson with his indomitable lawman's spirit and strange youth habits. On his desk rest several things - case files both relevant to his current assignment as well as previous ones he likes to review (the sheer number of cold cases breeds a certain obsession), a few magazines not unlike what you would find on the coffee table of a dentist's waiting room, an ashtray he never uses, a tape recorder for work purposes. Recently he's mixed it up a little - now in addition to the recorder there are a couple of old tapes labeled in marker on top of everything, rotating along every few days along a general axis of 90s pop rock and related genres. There is also a low-quality Polaroid of some faded graffiti featuring the famous phrase Skateboarding Is Not A Crime sitting atop the case files in a place of prominence. He looks upon it contemplatively now and again as he sits hunched over at the desk with his trusty board across his lap, grimly getting on with the day's paperwork.

[Draignean]

Jennifer Blaze took B5 after failing to get assigned to the windowspot at C5- a frustration which still plagues her. It's not even like SK8ER-COP even looks out the window, it's just not fai- Ahem. Anyway. Jennifer does the best she can in B5. There's a clear plastic toothpick dispenser on the left side of her desk, modified with determination and a pocket knife to dispense cigarettes instead. Purposefully, there is no ashtray on her table, and she makes a point of exclusively using SK8ER-COP's when he isn't looking. Just inwards of that is a small, dingy looking Stuffed Rabbit wearing a 'Fuck the Police' t-shirt. Centered on her desk is a manila envelope containing some form of semi-relevant and highly shuffleable papers that help Blaze appear to be working. On the right side of her desk is a wireless phone charger which is essential for Blaze since her phone is the only reason she can make it through the working day.

Usually, Blaze is sitting sidesaddle in the chair one arm up over the back and the other in her lap with her phone out.

[IcyTea31]

Jackie Hawkins sits at C4. He didn't take it out of any preference, it simply happened to be vacant after a predecessor went into early retirement due to injury. It's well lit and lets him be close to the 'cool' cops, however, which is always a plus. He keeps his desk quite tidy, with everything carefully organized as possible. Its centerpiece is a battered laptop computer. Though it's outdated and worn, it's the best he can afford at the moment, and can handle the simple office work. To the left of the laptop is a pair of cheap sunglasses along with a little red notebook coupled with a pen for field notes. To the right, generally packed lunch and today's newspaper, turned to the page with a crossword puzzle. In the drawers, copies of archived case notes and other "possibly useful" material, such as a ruffled book on psychology. Hidden amongst them are his personal notes on the unofficial Summer Kingdom case. Despite his oath, he has opted not to shred them, just in case they'll be useful later.

Jackie tends to sit slightly hunched over with his legs steadily on the ground at a 90 degree angle, deeply focused on his work and trying not to attract undue attention as his hands type or write rapidly. When it gets slow and he reads rather than writes, however, he leans back a bit and straightens his legs to be more comfortable. He still manages to look stiff and awkward.

[Digital Hellhound]

Sugar looms over A5. This ensures his outbursts and raging exits to the door are seen by the entire office, without him having to actually make his way from the middle of it. How very considerate!

On his desk is a changing picture of his guy/gal of the week, a turbulent computer one can expect to regularly find him raging, weeping or praying at, a corner with cologne, shoe polish, hand moisturiser, breath mints, and the other essential tools for looking, smelling, sounding good at all times, and Sugar’s extensive collection of telenovelas and romance films to be cracked open when the clues dry up and the weight of the world is upon him. Naturally, the drawers also contain a bottle of wine and two glasses to be presented when needed.

Case files are nowhere to be seen. Sugar swears he knows all of them in his heart and soul. He will gladly launch into an emotional retelling of one when needed.

Sugar tends to alternate between being hunched over his desk and turning and gesticulating wildly when his passions take over. Prospective adjacent co-workers quickly learn to keep clear of the danger zone of his animated movements.

[Rockeater]

Merisa Johnson seeing that she don't get her on office and only table X she decided that theBrazen Bull Replica don't have a place in the office so it was moved to the common room, On the desk himself there is only cigarette pact, no ashtray because she only smoke outside the office, and two pictures, Her Grandmother, the first female mayor of Varme, and the remains of the castle at the edge of town, beside that the only thing on her desk is the papers of some of her current cases and notes from questioning.

Mersia usually walk near her desk stting only when talking to someone.


After sobering up and realising how she assiend row 5, Merisa she decided to have some counter-mesure close by, that how Frank Washington got the sit B4.
Between the mess of his current cases and photoes of his family there is a picture of him getting the position of head of security at Blaze pharmaceutical his previous job he left for work in the police, In the bottom of this pile sits some unsolved dacade old cases from verius department relate to the Blaze family and their company
Often he lean forward or backward trying to read with his glasses.

April Storm took C1, mainly becuase she will be botherd the least when people try to get tro and from their sits, for that end she lives a Gaint stack of files, the vast majority of which she never read, to the right of her table, on the table himself there are only her computer on which she work on improving the fire spread prediction program, the files on her brother death 3 years ago and Warhammer 40k figurines she never find anyone to play with sinse she finished university.
She's mostly staring at the screen, the ceiling and out of the window.


Mike Smith asked and got A1, this is the closest table to the door so he could be out early in case it needed.
On his desk there are only some relevant cases to his investigations, criminology text books and academy Certificate of Excellence
whicch he look at in hardtimes.
He sits unaturally straight with his legs and hips in 90 degrees angels, no one can recall him sitting in any other position or standing completely stright.

[Fniff]

Excellent answers, all!
Now for the finishing blow to character creation.

I'm gonna ask you guys some individual questions about your fellow detectives. You'll get about 4-5, each one talking about a different detective.
I'm also asking another player a different question about the same detective. I highly encourage you check out the other spoilers below, not just the ones marked with your name, to see both sides of the situation.

This would be a lot more sensibly laid out, if we were all sitting around a table, since I'd mark down a name, ask one of you a question, then turn to another and ask a different one. But hey, that's the nature of a forum game.

The purpose of this is to color the world and make PC-NPC-PC triangles: basically using NPCs as stakes or complications in your relationships. This is all meant as 'leads' for future plot developments. Some will turn into interesting complications, others will fizzle out, and a few might be the axis the game's story rests upon. We'll play to find out!

Above all, remember: four or five questions is still a lot to think about. Don't worry about making the answer good: make it  obvious, the first thing that comes into mind. Often, that's the best.

Spoiler: SK8R COP (click to show/hide)

Mike Smith is seated at A1. He resurrected you by dragging your corpse into the Summer Kingdom Hall of Mirrors and promising something to someone named 'The Queen of Fireflies'. You know because he told you. What was he lying about, and how did you find out he was lying?
Ehsan Bishop is seated at B2. She's the only cop you know who loves skateboarding as much as you do, and she always wants to do sick tricks with you. Why are you keeping your distance?
Sauli Suzuki is seated at C2. He's the only guy who's ever got to ride on your board. Why'd you trust him with it?
April Storm is seated at C1. You're partially responsible for her brother Adam's death. He's also partially responsible for your death. Could you tell me the circumstances of that?
Ricarda Arendse is seated at A3When she says jump, you say how high. What is it about her that scares you so much, you can't look her in the eye?

Spoiler: BLAZE (click to show/hide)

April Storm is seated at C1. Why are you addicted to her?
Anna Maina is seated at A2. Why did Funny Bunny need her scared away from investigating the ruined castle at the edge of town?
Prokopy Roth is seated at A4. Why does he scare Funny Bunny?
Vilhelm Dieter is seated at B3. You tried tempting him into a deal with Funny Bunny, but getting tangled up in Vilhelm's shit got you in way over your head. What was it, and how is it still messing with you?
Ragnar Nikolaev is seated at A5. He made a deal with Funny Bunny: Ragnar offered his life, collectible by Funny Bunny at any time. What did Funny Bunny give in exchange?

Spoiler: SUGAR (click to show/hide)

Huburtus Serfain is seated at B1. What did the moon tell you about him? Why did it scare you?
Anna Maina is seated at A2. The favor you did for Blaze meant you permanently scarred Anna. How?
Ricarda Arendse is seated at A3. The last time you tried storming out, Ricarda stuck out her foot and tripped you up. Why did she do this, and how'd you get her back?
Roghayeh 'Steely Dan' Mikolajczak is seated at C3. She's your ex-lover. How does she use the fact you don't know you're a werewolf as leverage?
Ragnar Arendse is seated at A5. Why's Ragnar sharing a desk with you?

Spoiler: CUTTHROAT (click to show/hide)

Mike Smith is seated at A1. He and SK8R cop hang out after work. Why are you scared of them getting too friendly with each other?
Steely Dan is seated at C3. She's quiet, polite, sensible. How does she stand in the way of your ambitions?
Prokopy Roth is seated at A4. He's the police operator, and you had to pull a lot of strings to move his desk here. Why did he refuse to join your clique after all that?
Frank Washington is seated at A1. Head of Security at Blaze Pharmacheutical is a great gig. Why did he leave, and how did you exploit that?
Ehsan Bishop is seated at B2. You keep pressuring her into making friends with SK8R cop: why?

Spoiler: HAWKINS (click to show/hide)

Huburtus Serfain is seated at B1. He displays his family photos on his desk: why does that scare you?
Sauli Suzuki is seated at C2. He told you to lay off Summer Kingdom. Thing is, you never told him about it. What do you think his connection to the case is?
Vilhelm Dieter is seated at B3. You and him have been best friends since you were in diapers. Why is the relationship heavily biased in his favor?
Frank Washington is seated at A1. He's kind of an unprofessional wreck; what is it about him that attracts you?

Spoiler: MAP! (click to show/hide)

[IcyTea31]

Huburtus Serafin is seated at B1. He displays his family photos on his desk: why does that scare you?

His 'family' seems to be comprised entirely of shifty men and women in dark suits, aged thirty to fifty. I'm usually not one to stereotype, but I have a feeling his 'family' isn't of the genetic kind. And if that feeling isn't enough, I swear I sometimes see fangs and red eyes in the pictures, if only in the corner of my eye when I pass by.

Sauli Sazuki is seated at C2. He told you to lay off Summer Kingdom. Thing is, you never told him about it. What do you think his connection to the case is?

I have two theories: the simple theory is that he's a fairy himself. The sane theory is that every newcomer manages to connect the dots and he thus made an educated guess. It's the classic conspiracy whack "if he isn't in on it, he's aware of it." Either way, I haven't dared ask him about it. ...Now that I think about it, those theories aren't mutually exclusive.

Vilhelm Dieter is seated at B3. You and him have been best friends since you were in diapers. Why is the relationship heavily biased in his favor?

Be it in school, the academy or free time, he always knew how to get out of trouble. He's saved me from many tricky situations over the years. Beyond that, he's rich, saying he's from an old Austrian noble family, and thus he could afford to entertain us both. He says he's not interested in men, so we never went past being friends, but that's okay.

Frank Washington is seated at A4. He's kind of an unprofessional wreck; what is it about him that attracts you?

Unprofessional or not, his experience gets results. From how I've seen him work, he sometimes solves cases just by reading through the files once and connecting it to some cold case from thirty years ago. He's definitely someone I'd aspire to be.


Edit:
Extra question for whoever wants to answer it: how did Steely Dan get her nickname?

[Harry Baldman]

Mike Smith is seated at A1. He resurrected you by dragging your corpse into the Summer Kingdom Hall of Mirrors and promising something to someone named 'The Queen of Fireflies'. You know because he told you. What was he lying about, and how did you find out he was lying?

Everyone knows you can't talk about what happens in the Hall of Mirrors, so if he's talking about it that means it couldn't have happened. He's tried to tell me like a dozen times already and the story's different every time (the who, the what and the why), and it drives him wild. I'm always like "my dude, it is all good", but that just makes him angry as well as frustrated.

Ehsan Bishop is seated at B2. She's the only cop you know who loves skateboarding as much as you do, and she always wants to do sick tricks with you. Why are you keeping your distance?

She's a cop for sure. I can hear it in her heartbeat and smell it in her morning coffee. You couldn't be more of a cop if you went to a narcotics enforcement convention in Milwaukee.

Sauli Suzuki is seated at C2. He's the only guy who's ever got to ride on your board. Why'd you trust him with it?

This guy though, definitely not a cop. He once decided to learn how to beatbox and bam, six months later he brought the dang office down at the Christmas party, because that's just the kind of guy he is. If there's a dude in the world to trust with your board, it's him.

April Storm is seated at C3. You're partially responsible for her brother Adam's death. He's also partially responsible for your death. Could you tell me the circumstances of that?

Shit, that takes me back. Me and Adam, we went over to the old aerospace park on the edge of town like three years ago to scope it out for a later demo. Place was flipping incredible, lemme tell you, they got the heights, they got the lows, they got the ramps and criminy, they got rails and catwalks like you've never seen. Rusted to heck and back, bent left, right, up, down and sideways across a square mile of industrial decay, the place sloped like Mount Everest and squealed like a string quartet. You should have seen me, I was  Leif Eriksson in America all like "eat my shit, Columbus", and Adam was there too like one of those other top shelf dudes who went with Leif Eriksson.

So we wound up right at the top of this one test stand where they did rocket stuff like a hundred years ago or whenever and there was a gap that led to the biggest ramp I ever saw in my life. I went for a double sex change impossible tailgrab I'd been saving for a special occasion, and Adam nailed the best bennihana this side of the Atlantic, and then it was a lot like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid except instead of the Bolivian army coming in to wreck our shit (though I wouldn't have been surprised if they had, given advance warning and maybe some context) the entire thing collapsed under us and, lacking other options at the time, we ate shit and died screaming under a golden sunset and like twenty tons of steel. Best day ever!

Man, I should really get back with Adam at some point, last time we hung out was... dang, must have been a year ago now. Time flies, dude.

Ricardo Arendse is seated at A3When she says jump, you say how high. What is it about her that scares you so much, you can't look her in the eye?

She hits on me all the time, gets handsy at the water cooler, has followed me around the city at least once, we've spoken enough that the sound of her voice makes me wince, I've heard she's got some friends at the county coroner's office, and I know for a fact that things could be much, much worse if she wanted it that way. Does that answer your question, my dude?

[Digital Hellhound]

Huburtus Serfain is seated at B1. What did the moon tell you about him? Why did it scare you?

I don't need the moon to be scared of Huburtus, but it helps. The man's so good with co-workers and suspects alike you'd swear his gaze was hypnotic; he's got a name more fit for the 18th century, so it's gotta be fake; and he seems to have worked in Arson long enough for everyone's grandfathers to remember him. I just got a bad feeling about him.

Anna Maina is seated at A2. The favor you did for Blaze meant you permanently scarred Anna. How?

Anna was my rookie partner when I made some evidence disappear for Blaze. Said evidence implicated Blaze Pharmeceuticals in illegal sales of their drugs straight to the crime bosses, and to get to it we ended up having to take a whole lot of various intoxicating substances to keep our cover. I was fine; Anna was not. She tripped out, and saw things that don't exist and really shouldn't. Thing is, just because the drugs made her see them, it doesn't mean they're not real...

Ricarda Arendse is seated at A3. The last time you tried storming out, Ricarda stuck out her foot and tripped you up. Why did she do this, and how'd you get her back?

This is how our relationship works, really. We make each other suffer, waging a small private war across the room. This time, my revenge is going to be sweet. It's well known around the precinct that Ricarda hates kids. I seduced the community outreach manager and told him how much Ricarda loves doing that kind of thing. I can't wait to see her face when she hears that she's got a full week of community work with at-risk kids and school tours to enjoy.

Still, I can't hate her. I enjoy our back-and-forth pranks and plotting entirely too much. I get the feeling our rivalry's slowly giving way to other, better passions as time goes on...

Roghayeh 'Steely Dan' Mikolajczak is seated at C3. She's your ex-lover. How does she use the fact you don't know you're a werewolf as leverage?

There's a big market out there for werewolf snuff films. What I had with Steely wasn't love, but cold, calculating business on her part. She'd take me to these clubs run by the supernatural underworld, get me drunk, and push my buttons until the fur came out. The ensuing rampages would be filmed, sold and shared far and wide. She's still got the footage, and if I cross her she'll surely reveal them to me and to the whole world if I don't play along. Nobody died, but she's not going to tell me that.

Ragnar Arendse is seated at A5. Why's Ragnar sharing a desk with you?

Why not? Sure, he's cold and calculating where I'm passionate and impulsive, but we've bonded over our mutual dislike of Ragnar's sister Ricarda. Ragnar thinks she cheated him out of an inheritance way back and has nursed a grudge ever since. We got a desk together so we might all the better make our plans against her. I get the feeling Ragnar's looking for bigger pay-back than the kind of pranks I get up to, though - I'm a bit worried it'll be the kind of pay-back that leaves family mansions burning and bodies on the floor, honestly.

[Rockeater]

Mike Smith is seated at A1. He and SK8R cop hang out after work. Why are you scared of them getting too friendly with each other?

Mike is a smart person, he know what he do and why, but when this two together, Mike act odd afterwards, he act distracted and imapient, like something big is going on and he is the only one who notice, and this is saying something, somthing which I don't want to get involved in. 

Steely Dan is seated at C3. She's quiet, polite, sensible. How does she stand in the way of your ambitions?

Remember when I said no-one here wants power, well, this was a mistake, almost no-one here wants power, She does, she wanted the spot I have but didn't have enough favor with the higher-up to get it, now she does, I see myself in her, and this is bad, there is no place for both of us here and until she's out of here or under my foot I need to walk on eggshells.
 

Prokopy Roth is seated at A4. He's the police operator, and you had to pull a lot of strings to move his desk here. Why did he refuse to join your clique after all that?

He didn't join because he didn't felt skilled enough investigator for that

Frank Washington is seated at B4. Head of Security at Blaze Pharmacheutical is a great gig. Why did he leave, and how did you exploit that?

He great at investigations, but that is not why you hire Head of Security, his ciriusty led him to see and know things he shouldn't, I am a bit surprised he got so high in the ranks in the first place and that he's still live here, at Varme.
Keeping quiet on the darker things we found out get me his loyalty.

Ehsan Bishop is seated at B2. You keep pressuring her into making friends with SK8R cop: why?

SK8R cop have something odd about him and it's look like it only effect Mike Smith, Ehsan being the one of the most strghit forward cop and the easiest to read from the lot of them, getting them closer will help me understand him better.

[Draignean]

April Storm is seated at C1. Why are you addicted to her?

She's fresh, exciting, and has this weird thing where she appears to actually enjoy her job. She knows all the best cop-clubs in town, which is how we became friends, but I can't get enough of her because she's the alien creature that simultaneously seems to know what a good time is (so few here do) but also appears to genuinely care about her work.

Anna Maina is seated at A2. Why did Funny Bunny need her scared away from investigating the ruined castle at the edge of town?

'Cuz that's where all the occult rituals are going on, and Funny Bunny 'needs no shiz from those blue-robed star-fondling tree-humpers', to give a direct quote from him. It kinda felt personal, like when I warned away my first boyfriend from looking into the album of my own baby pictures. Too Embarassing to contemplate.

Prokopy Roth is seated at A4. Why does he scare Funny Bunny?

He's an innocent. Like, really fucking innocent. As in, someone makes a joke about pegging and he just stares at you blankly. He doesn't understand the concept of temptation, and he actually gives a real and honest appraisal of himself on every performance self-review. He's humble, honest, and probably keeps a set of feathery wings right next to his diary and promise ring.  He scares funny bunny because, I dunno, he's incorruptible and there might actually be something genuinely 'holy' about the dude.  Certainly keeps his pencils too organized to be normal.

Vilhelm Dieter is seated at B3. You tried tempting him into a deal with Funny Bunny, but getting tangled up in Vilhelm's shit got you in way over your head. What was it, and how is it still messing with you?

Dieter has a problem with strippers. I thought, originally, that it was a standard problem that a male might have with strippers. I.e: he wants them to dance around for him for free and let him bit his thing in their thing. So, yeah, I got involved. I expressed interest, and I got caught up in his secret life as strip-plastic dancer. Man goes by the stage name 'the Firepole' and specializes in gymnastic group displays. Technically, I'm his manager. It's surprisingly more work and less fun than I expected.

Ragnar Nikolaev is seated at A5. He made a deal with Funny Bunny: Ragnar offered his life, collectible by Funny Bunny at any time. What did Funny Bunny give in exchange?

Man was apparently a Dorian Grey fan, and he's kinda obsessed with personal health and cleaning. I mean, I groom like a normal, sane human being for about two hours a day. It once caught this guy with hair pluckers shaping his foot hair. I mean, don't get me wrong, the effect is striking as fuck, but it's still a bit overkill. So Funny Bunny gave him the ability to not display signs of aging and be able to alter his own appearance as he wished. Kinda seems like a losing deal when Funny Bunny might pull his plug for shits at any moment, but whatevs.

[Fniff]

Excellent work all! Fantastic amount of material here.
Let's cut to the chase.
Here's the in-character thread, and here's your partners.

SK8R COP, you're with Blaze.
Sugar, you're with Steely Dan.
Hawkins, you're with Huburtus Serafin.
Merisa, you're not really with anyone since you're the head of the department, but you do have the authority to bring anyone along with you, and you strike me as the type who'd be in the field a lot.

Again, let me know if any of the things presented in the IC thread seem out-of-character, since I did make a couple of assumptions. In general, try to roll with it, but if it's completely unworkable let me know.
Edit: Oh, and if there's anything that makes you uncomfortable, let me know!

[IcyTea31]

Oh, but that wasn't even all of it. The secret part of the evening burned on his tongue, but he'd have to keep some cards close to his chest - the part where they'd break into the Summer Kingdom all together and take that creepy old place by storm. If that wouldn't cheer up Sauli, nothing would.

I don't quite understand this one. What's there to take by storm? It's not like anyone has actually committed a crime.